Let Chen go to US, say Chinese experts

Beijing, May 10 (IANS) Bling Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng is most likely to lose his influence once he leaves for the US, a Chinese expert said in remarks published Thursday.

The US-Asia Law Institute in New York University has offered a fellowship to Chen after he announced his intention to study abroad.

While some people in the US have extended a warm welcome to Chen, observers note it is likely to mark the decline in influence of 41-year-old Chen, Global Times said.

Chen is expected to be accompanied by his wife and two children.

“It’s okay for them to migrate wherever they chose. There’s no need to lobby them to stay,” said Zhang Xixian, a professor with the Party School of the Communist Party of China’s Central Committee.

However, these dissidents’ value as so-called heroes for challenging Chinese authorities depreciates once they go abroad, Liu Yang, a Beijing-based freelance writer and blogger, told the Global Times.

Many Chinese dissidents have hinted that life in the US for Chen, who has made international headlines, promises anything but a smooth transition.

“At first the news media pays a great deal of attention to you but then it wanes,” Wei Jingsheng, a dissident living in the US state of Maryland, was quoted as saying.

Wei was sentenced to 14 years in prison in China. He was granted medical parole in 1997.

Chinese dissidents abroad usually have a hard time making ends meet, which leaves them little time to care about politics.

“It’s not surprising that dissidents’ influence decreases. As long as the CPC holds the leadership, the minimal actions of dissidents and those in exile can hardly weigh much in the international community,” Zhang added.

Dissidents must also grapple with language and cultural barriers.

Yu Jie, an author of several Chinese-language books decrying State leaders, left China for the US in January after claiming his freedom of speech was restricted.

Said Liu Yang: “It’s undeniable our government has some defects and some officials are corrupt but it’s not right to amplify these problems and deem the whole leadership as evil.”